No one knew how they came to exist...
The world whispered about them, these Shifters, their origins lost in the mists of time. Feared and misunderstood, they were a dangerous enigma, a secret that could shatter the foundations of society. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be plunged into their world, that I was one of them.
"Are you sure?" My mother's voice trembled, laced with disbelief and a hint of fear. "I don't understand how this is possible." Maya's worry was palpable, her eyes darting around the dimly lit office as if searching for an explanation etched into the grimy walls. The doctor, a peculiar man with eyes that seemed like they held ancient secrets, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What about her father? Could he have carried the gene?" My mother recoiled, her face a mask of denial. "Her father is a prominent figure, a pillar of our community. It's simply impossible." Even at nine years old, I sensed this was no ordinary physician; the clandestine location of his practice spoke volumes. The air was thick with unspoken truths and hidden agendas.
Leaving the doctor's office, the weight of the unknown pressed down on us. My mother's grip tightened around my hand, her knuckles white. Kneeling before me, her eyes locked onto mine, a storm of emotions swirling within them. "No one can ever know what you are," she whispered, her voice grave. "Do you understand me?" Confusion clouded my young mind. "What am I?" I asked, desperate for answers. Her response was a haunting echo, "No one can know." The words hung in the air, a chilling prophecy that would shape my destiny. The topic was never broached again, swept under the rug of our daily lives, until some time after I turned 11.
It was a normal day, the day the dormant secret within me awakened, and I shifted for the first time. Panic seized me, fragmented memories of pain and confusion. My mother's desperate prayers filled the air, a plea to a higher power that I wouldn't become a predator. Her prayers were in vain. The creature I transformed into was her worst nightmare, a symbol of the wild, untamed forces that threatened to consume us all.
I was a wolf.
After that day I never shifted again.
Our lives resumed a semblance of normalcy, though the memory lingered like a ghost. When I turned 12, my mother's eyes sparkled with a newfound joy as she introduced us to Brett Smith, a wealthy man whose presence exuded confidence. With him came Angela, his daughter, two years my senior, her gaze holding a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
We blended into a picture-perfect family, laughter echoing through the halls, secrets buried deep. Brett and Angela remained blissfully unaware of the supernatural undercurrents that defined me, and I intended to keep it that way. A year later, wedding bells chimed, sealing my mother and Brett's love in matrimony. Soon after, the news of a new addition to our family filled our hearts with excitement. When I turned 14, my sweet little brother Xander entered the world, his innocent eyes reflecting the promise of a bright future. But joy turned to sorrow as complications during childbirth claimed my mother's life, leaving a void that could never be filled.
"Kayla, come on! You're gonna be late!" Angela's voice sliced through the morning air, jolting me from my thoughts.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath, scrambling out of bed and grabbing my bag. As I dashed down the stairs, Angela stood with her arms crossed, a mixture of annoyance and concern etched on her face. "You're 19 years old, Kayla. When are you gonna stop being late all the time?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Probably never!" I retorted with a chuckle, flashing her a mischievous grin before darting out the door.
Hopping onto my bike, I pedaled away, the wind whipping through my hair as I raced against the clock. Finally, I arrived at my destination: a humble fast-food restaurant, where the aroma of greasy burgers and crispy fries hung heavy in the air.
I clocked in, the familiar scent of frying potatoes and sizzling burgers filling my nostrils. "Hey, Kayla! Late as usual?" Mark, the shift manager, greeted me with a knowing smirk. I just rolled my eyes and hurried to my station, ready to face the lunchtime rush.
The hours blurred into a chaotic symphony of orders, sizzling sounds, and hurried footsteps. Customers came and went, each transaction a fleeting interaction in the grand theater of fast food. Before I knew it, the sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the parking lot. "Alright, Kayla, you're off the clock. See you tomorrow," Mark announced, breaking me from my trance.
As I hopped on my bike, a sense of unease washed over me. The streetlights flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on the empty streets. The darkness seemed to press in from all sides, amplifying every rustle of leaves and creak of branches. Each shadow danced like a phantom, playing tricks on my eyes.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence, sending a jolt of adrenaline through my veins. I slammed on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. "What the hell was that?" I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. Curiosity and fear warred within me as I dismounted my bike, my senses on high alert.
Drawn by an invisible force, I cautiously approached a dimly lit alleyway. The stench of blood and raw meat assaulted my nostrils, making my stomach churn. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I gasped in horror. In the shadows, a sight that defied explanation unfolded before me: a massive wolf, its jaws stained crimson, tearing apart a man with savage ferocity. I had never seen anything like it before, not even when I was one of them.
The wolf's head snapped up, its piercing yellow eyes locking onto mine. A low growl rumbled in its chest, a sound that resonated deep within my bones. I knew I was no longer an unseen observer but the wolf's next target.
Slowly, I began to back away, my mind racing, trying to find some semblance of reason in this nightmare. The wolf mirrored my movements, each step deliberate, its predatory gaze never leaving mine. Panic welled up inside me, threatening to consume me whole.
In a desperate act of defiance, I channeled every ounce of my will, and a strange sensation washed over me. My eyes began to glow with an eerie orange light, a manifestation of the power I had tried so hard to suppress. "Stay away from me," I whispered, my voice laced with a primal intensity I didn't know I possessed.
But my warning was in vain. With a savage snarl, the wolf lunged, its massive form hurtling through the air. I barely managed to scramble out of the way, the force of its attack sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shot through my body, but there was no time to dwell on it.
As I scrambled to my feet, I knew there was only one way to survive this encounter. The time for hiding was over. The only way to face this beast was to embrace the wolf within. With a deep breath, I surrendered to the primal instinct that surged through my veins, preparing to unleash the beast I had kept dormant for so long.